Update...last pics b4 harvest!!!! :D

[jamstigator]

Heh, cameras nowadays are amazing. I quit using my loupe. Here's a pic that came straight from the camera (a point-and-shoot Canon), no loupe, no microscope. I was stunned at how nice modern point-and-shoots are these days too.

[trupothead420]

damn...i wish my dig would get that good of a shot...when eva i zoom in its jus a blurr pic...was the lens real close too?

[Racerx]

tru, although its very hard to tell from a picture because lighting, flash, etc can change everything, but they look pretty cloudy to me. Id give em a day or 2 more and go for it if your not going to get a microscope.

far as where to look, you want the majority of the top colas to be good. Obviously some of the lower buds wont be at their "full potential" but this is the sacrifice you sometimes have to make in order to guarantee your big stuff is prime. When I see about 25% amber on most of the direct light buds, is what I like.

PS. Growing is an amazing learning experience, always do experiments. You have 3 plants right? Well harvest 2 of first and let the other one go a few more days longer. When its all dried and cured, if there is a large difference, then you know to wait longer (atleast with that particular strain but in general too).

[smoky mcpot 05]

koo...i think imma head to RS in a bit...now do i need to check the chrichomes all over the plant?.... and 50/50 cloudy/clear of the entire plant, or...? and my other 2 plants r bout 65-80% amber..should i harvest them or jus wait to get that microscope...i just saw one on theit web site that was 60-100x for 9.99....go wit that? thnx :stoned:

You'll have to take samples from each of the buds as it is pretty much impossible to see on the plant. And it will take some practice being able to see what you need to see. But don't worry eventually you'll get it. When you do it will be truely amazing to look at, almost like something deep down in the depths of the ocean. But yes, thats the microscope to get. Also make sure you have fresh batteries in it. Take your samples from the tops of the plant, as this will be the part ready first, (in most strains), like someone else said its all an experiment, you'll have to decide what you like best so harvest some and properly dry and cure it, at different stages. So you'll know next time when (around when and what to look for) to harvest the majority. The best time to harvest sativa or sativa dominant plants is when the trichome heads are bulbous but clear to cloudy. To take advantage of the sativa effects. For indica or indica dominant, just the opposite, bulbous almost bursting with cloudy to amber. And for hybrids, when theres a nice mixture of clear, cloudy and amber. By the way, no matter how long you wait, some trichomes will never change to cloudy or amber. Hope this helps you.

[crazywill]

Hey guys I just got the one form radio shack.It works but you have to have
a steady hand,but yes that's the olny way of seeing the trichones.
Do it you wont be sorry.

[trupothead420]

thnx......yea i think imma go ahead and harvest 1 or 2 like 2 morow or sunday(to give the soil time to dry b/c i jus gave em a lil drink jus to perk up again, since i didnt know for sure if i should harvest yet or not) and will go from there and see the difference....thnx again

[trupothead420]

i jus got one now and bout to check em....smoky u said that ill have to take some samples from the bud...wouldnt that stunt it or hurt it someway....i cant just hold it up to tha main cola on the plant...thnx